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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Anne Osterlund is the author of the fantasy books Aurelia and Exile and the sci-fi book Academy 7. Now she's branching out into contemporary fiction with her latest, Salvation! Salvation will be out tomorrow, and to celebrate, Anne has stopped by as a part of her blog tour to answer a few questions. But first, here's more about Salvation:

"Salvador Resendez--Salva to his friends--seems to have it all. He's Student Body president, captain of the football team, and has a near-perfect GPA. Everyone thinks that he could have any girl, and go to any college, that he wants. But how could he ever leave his family? After the death of this mother, his father and younger sisters need him more than ever. Then the most unlikely girl in school--shy, quiet Beth--catches his eye, and with her help, Salva starts to see things differently. And when a tragic accident strikes, Salva is forced to accept that life is too short not to pursue your dreams.

Thoughtful and romantic, this is a beautifully written story about following your heart and fulfilling your potential."

And here is Anne!

TCR: Can you describe your book in ten words or less?

AO: A young man who doesn’t want to be everyone’s salvation.

TCR: How was writing Salvation different from writing your other characters and worlds in Aurelia, Exile, and Academy 7?

Salvation is the story of Salvador Resendez, a brilliant young man who hovers just beyond the center of the spotlight. He is student council president, quarterback of the football team, and has a near perfect GPA. His Mexican immigrant family has high expectations and Salva intends to fulfill them. But instead of embracing his ability to lead, he allows his friends to direct his inner compass.

Until he collides with Beth Courant, AKA the walking disaster area. And all manner of chaos erupts.

This is the first contemporary novel I have written. And the first in which the guy’s story defines the action. It required a great deal of tossing and catching of objects: footballs, oranges, keys. Ultimately, though, the challenge remained the same. Digging as deeply into the character’s head—and heart—as possible, and allowing the reader to see the world from that character’s perspective.

TCR: What was your reaction when you first saw your cover?

Beth was totally embarrassed. She is not an exhibitionist. Salva was perfectly happy not being at the center of the photo—even though it is his story. I could never design anything half as beautiful as the covers Penguin’s artistic team creates.

TCR: What are some YA books you have read recently that you would recommend to your readers?

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